Merlyn watched as Arthur moved. It seemed he finally understood some of the greater purpose of bringing him to this land. She'd come here to spare as many lives as possible. To do what needed to be done to give fortitude to as many of the individuals within this land as she possibly could. Of course, even then, some sacrifices had to happen. Without Hector being freed of Kolin this scenario would have played out very differently. The death of Elyan would have changed Guin in a fundamental way. She saw it in her head clearly as day. That abandoned time where Guin lone survivor of this family took this land back by force and blood shed. When Guin gave herself over to the spirit of the land, and it forced out Kolin with the same force the Executioner's blade wanted, her killed. Where Zuria was trapped in ice to protect it from invaders, and she sat upon an icy throne a single eye glowing for eternity with none but the whispers of the ice to keep her company. That future avoided for this one instead, where a just knight died for his comrade because a mad woman decided to throw a tantrum. Here, a blonde future king sat upon the throne to honor a man who would have been dishonored by the queen he served with utmost respect. Terrible.
At the same time, Kolin seemed satisfied. Even as Hector's head rolled she was immediately smitten. She looked to her side and Arthur was there!! How exciting. The idea of him at her side as her King was beyond what could be expected. She was pleased beyond belief, especially when she considered the actions of the others, he'd taken this seat of his own accord. He and Cador were without question the tops of her Knights. None of the other Knights ever dared approach her while she did this little dance with the Executioner. Arthur stayed proving his worth to her, and in her own twisted logic, if all this cost her was the life of a single Knight, she'd sacrifice a thousand more. A huge smile spread across this woman's face, "Yes, that's all... you can go." she said to Charles as if she had the Aurthority to give him orders. As if she didn't truly understand that the Execution was just waiting for the day her name rolled. In light of the death here, everyone even the chipper Merlyn seemed a bit solemn. It would have been disrespectful of her to sully this man's sacrifice, she'd honor him as she said and she turned and shook her head. Kolin was truly a disgusting existence. In all the time she'd walked this world, there were none who made he feel less appreciative of the human condition than her. "Alright, I've calmed down now... and you... still haven't given an oath. So, Merlyn give it... or I'll keep killing people. If you can't die... everyone else can." she said to the white haired woman in the anti-magic circle. Merlyn looked at her and sighed. "You truly think to threaten me, with suffering?! Again?!" she said as if utterly surprised. Madness truly was repeating the same actions without deviation and expecting a different outcome. "A man literally just died... an honorable one, and you really think that threatening more deaths will result in acquiescence to your wishes?" she said. "I didn't think a human could properly disgust me, but you alone in the centuries stand as a monument to be the worst humanity has to offer... all for what? The attention of a man who doesn't want you..." she said. "Never would I bow to such an existence, nor would I swear an oath to it," she said flatly. "It would be a disservice to every human light extinguished... and I never would." Kolin heard Merlyn's words and for the third time she was infuriated by them. How dare she?! She would learn... "Fine. One of you run her through. I don't care whom or what tool you use, but make sure she shuts her fucking mouth!" This was Kolin, in her purest form. She couldn't kill Merlyn, so why not have her tortured or raped instead. She would submit if she suffered enough, everyone did eventually.